I traded...what do you think?

Here is a story.....the other day I was at Ballard's backroom and saw a pretty mirror. AND all wall decor was 40% off so of course I could not leave it for anyone else to get. I know you have been there. I am not sure they have it anymore as I could not find it on line but I think I paid $125.00 or something. On my way home I stopped at my friend Maria's house to look at her dining room. She told me she had developed such a hate of the room she was thinking of boarding it up.

Such drama. But I have to say when I walked in I felt the same way. Let's go get the plywood. Nah...just kidding. But I did agree it was bordering on the 90's when everyone in Atlanta had RED in their DR. The walls used to be red....which she painted when I clearly told her NOT too. Uh...huh.....that lasted a couple of years until she admitted I was right. A different color and then red curtains.....what is it with red dining rooms in the south???

SO...on to the pictures. [hold on...the reason for the mirror is coming]

Heavy right......A lot of wood. And this girl ain't painting nothin.....no matter what I say.

Every time I suggested painting something she was like a kid that you were trying to feed vegetables too. She would scrunch up her face and shake her head. No! This is where I want to say "then why am I here".....oh....a miracle you say. Make the room pretty with what I have. So what I am hearing is that you want me to pull a rabbit out of my ass???? To which I say...one rabbit coming up.

Number one...change out seat covers. 2 yards of fabric and $25.00. Oh and that is another thing....the budget was the size of a pair of shoes from Payless....almost.

When in doubt...black and white and add some seagrass.

Cream curtains and change out some art.....

Take out a leaf in the table as you could clearly land a plane on this sucker. Big is NOT always better in some things.

New chandelier.....sorry these pictures are lame...no staging here...notice the vacuum cleaner in the background. She was getting ready for a luncheon.

Love the rabbit out of the ass comment. Felt the same way when a pal asked me to help her train to lose weight. When I suggested she move to 2 cocktails a WEEK versus 2 a night and she said "No Way" -- well, bend over and cue the rabbit.

...ah, the "ole bait and switch"..very clever...I've done that before..amazing how it works...and your friend really needs to learn about storage units...all the items that are outdated go into storage..you get to keep them but they're no longer interfering with the new decorating..and then you go out and buy all new "old" stuff at the flea market...voila...fabulous redo of the dining room with not having much to work with...have a great weekend,maureen

Ooo, can't wait to hear about the Mart (write up in ATL Homes and Lifestyles has me itching to go). Now to the mirror-- love, love and it's much more at home with you. Chuckling at your dining room dissection: from model home ick to much bettah!Happy Friday, Happy Mart-prowling. :)Heidi @ Show Some Decor

Abracadabra, Sha-ray does her magic again! You mean she wouldn't paint her dining room electric blue like crazy me? I actually used to have a red living room about 8 years ago - with lots of yellow - very French country. The thought of it now makes me sick. Your changes made a huge difference. And don't you hate it when someone snags your find? You got redemption, girl, with mirror switcheroo. Brilliant.

This was so entertaining....love love love the mirror and I am sure "shes" much happier in "her" new home! I also love the look of sea grass rugs, so elegant. I agree too much wood can be an overkill...love what you have done!!

Sherry you have me laughing and I have only had two sips of coffee, I usually need 2 cups before I am even coherent. What a difference a Sherry transformation can make!! Love the fresh new look and the mirror is perfection, I agree, don't let her have it back!! Kathysue

I love all your funny comments! And what's with the red dining room in the south, you asked? I used to live in North Carolina for almost 7 years and when we take a stroll in our neighborhood and other nearby neighborhoods, I noticed most of them had red dining rooms. The reason? Red walls in the dining rooms are said to increase appetite! Luckily, I didn't fall into that trap! Red on my dining room? Not going to happen! Instead, I have a beautiful wallpaper on those walls and that's the room I got the most compliments, from my guests to the UPS guy!

The transformation in Maria's dining room is wonderful with such a tiny budget, it looks much more lighter, fresher and prettier now! And your new mirror is beautiful!

Love all the changes you made in the space! Not sure why people get so freaked out about painting things. Men really get crazy when you mention painting over wood or brick. Not sure about the red room obsession. But we do see it a lot in the South. It's time to move away from it!

Dang girl, it continues to shock me what a little fabric can do for a room. Love this makeover! Also, love your new mirror for her and the old one for you!! This proves that you can freshen up on a budget!!! M.

One step at a time... What you have done so far looks fabulous! Love everything you picked including the new mirror. Bringing in more light colors makes the room much more updated. (But keep working on a potential paint job...)

And the mirror you came home with - I would't give that beauty back again - ever! It belongs with you. Classic, stylish and beautiful.

Sherry! First of all I give you credit for not walking out! ( :I would have beenso frustrated if I were you!!! Now ... this is what I simply DO NOT UNDERSTAND! Ok... , so she hates the dining room so much she wants to board it up.. and she has an AMAZING interior dsigner in her home !! And she does not take full advantage?! She is a silly silly woman! "cut her" "pull a rabbit out of my ass" you are hilarious! You did a great job with what you had to work with! And whoo hooo for you on the mirror~!Have a PRETTY day! Kristin

I am so laughing, love your writing and so glad I came over here! You did such a great job on that dining room and I agree with you, the honking china cabinet has got to go! Also the pretty ornate gilded picture has to go, move it to another room it's now to dressy for the dining room. Love your choice of black and white fabric fabulous all the way around!

Hahaha! Don't we all have that friend?I'd say it was a win win for both of you. You got your amazing mirror and she got an amazing new dining room out of the deal. Seriously, it looks like a totally different room. Well done!

Sherry- You did good! Is that a Ballard Fabric on the chairs? If it's what I think, it's indoor/outdoor good to wipe up stains, right?

I just borrowed a Ballard catalog for the first time from my friend Stacey. I usually say no to catalogs in the mail because I find things I want and then spend too much money! But I need to redo our entry and Ballard has some lovely and inexpensive stuff.